the strange and sometimes awesome things I think about and do

I think it’s official, I’m addicted to the WC. I wish I would have been a futbol fan before this year so I could understand more of the history of this event. Big games tomorrow. Can’t wait.

I missed four calls from a number I didn’t know today…all in about five minutes. Then I get a text.

?:Y u nt pickin up da fone wats wrong bae i hope and pray u ok and ily bae

Me: Sorry, wrong number.

?:Shay dis manny

?: Mi b dat is da wrong numba srry

Me: It’s all good.

Good trilogies are hard to come by. Third movies of the franchise can be killer. (TMNT III, Shrek the Third, Spider-Man III–just a couple that come to mind.) However there is those few rarities that go from sequel to trilogy with no loss of respect. And the Toy Story franchise can now add their name to the small list of superb franchises.

Toy Story 3 has had a lot of hype since being announced. Not because Pixar has been showing off or bragging in any sort of way but mainly because we had not seen a Toy Story movie in 11 years. That’s right eleven. Toy Story came out in 1994, Toy Story 2 came out in 1999 and then out of the blue Pixar told us we had a third installment headed our way. So we have all been curious as to why we were getting a new Toy Story. Some people have been counting down the days to see the third and others have been dreading the day, afraid their beloved Woody and Buzz would be tainted by a horrible sequel. Could it be that Pixar–the amazing movie making machine–could finally be out of ideas and found the need to drag out a franchise that is their calling card?

The answer is a resounding no. I have already seen the movie twice. Because the first time I saw the movie I thought I was just blinded by bias. But after seeing it again I realized that it is that amazing. It started with a bang with Pixar’s new amazing short “Day & Night”, which is an inventive combination of 2D animation, 3D animation and sound effects. The short was brilliant and perhaps my favorite short they have ever produced. Toy Story 3 itself was superb. The movie picks up as a 17 year old Andy is off to college and has to decide what he should do with his old toys that he has kept in his toy box mainly because they were tough to part with not because he uses them.

The movies theme is incredibly simple: moving on. The theme works for Andy as well as his toys. Yet while the the movie is an incredible joy for children it seems as if the movie is speaking to the now young people that have cherished Woody and Buzz for the last 16 years. However, everyone that is going through a “getting older” stage in their life can relate. Usually when we are getting older we have to do new and scary things and we have to move on and lose parts of our younger selves that we do not want to part with. This theme resounds through our lovable cowboy protagonist, Woody. And because it’s through Woody we can all relate. It’s genius. It’s a little emotional at times. Once again Pixar is a movie plot genius because the have a plethora of characters from the last two movies and they even add about twenty or so new characters this time around but Woody is still the focal point of the plot. It keeps things simple and allows for the other characters to be great comic relief. (Don’t worry Buzz fans he gets a great sub-plot and is still an amazing part of the story.)

And as cerebral as it seems like I’m trying to make this movie sound it is still gut bustingly hilarious.There is one moment of the movie that Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) makes the whole theatre laugh and keep laughing everytime he shows make up. Micheal Keaton is amazing as Ken, that’s right Barbie’s Ken. Ned Beatty, Timothy Dalton, Jeff Garlin, Bonnie Hunt, Whoppi Goldberg, Richard Kind, Kristen Shaal (of “Flight of the Conchords) and Javier Fernandez Pena (you’ll see) are the new comers in the already star studded cast.

Pixar’s done it again and while the movie has it’s small flaws, they are completely forgivable for everything that it does right. The story is amazing here and is an instant classic. Both kids and adults will relate to growing up and the pains it sometimes holds. Moving on is a part of life and it is often difficult but maybe not so much with a comfort movie like this. Let’s hope Pixar never grows up and continues to give us films that make us laugh, help us stay young and touch our hearts.

The first time that I learned that the Beach Boys stole Surfin’ USA from Chuck Berry I was astonished. I mean it’s one thing to cover a song but to blatantly steal is crazy. Chuck won a lawsuit and has partial songwriting credit and gets  his share of royalties so it isn’t all bad for him but…Surfin’ USA is a well known pop song that has America written all over it. And supposedly the lyrics to the song aren’t that original either…

Now, I’m not trying to bash the Beach Boys, that’s not my motive. (I love rocking out to Barbara Ann.) But come on, if we’re putting an asterisk next to Barry Bonds homerun record for cheating, don’t you think Chuck Berry deserves a whole lot more credit for writing one of the most well known American pop songs?

Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen”

The Beach Boys “Surfin’ USA”

If they say having a game be a draw is like kissing your sister, I don’t want to know what losing is like. Pulling a draw from England when everyone predicted that we should have lost isn’t too bad. USA can still make it to the next round if the cards fall the right way. However, it is not good for the publicity of American soccer to tie England. I’m sure most people will continue their apathy towards the sport. We’ll see.